Jacks game



Jan. 16, 1962 L. F. MILAN 3,017,182

JAcKs GAME Filed Jan. 13, 1959 GAMEMA//vfe mom/Nm @AME WMM/2 /ooPa/Nrs 20 20 j Z l L? G. Z 1. /G j INVENTOR.

Arran/Y United States Patent 3,017,182 Patented Jan. 16, 1962 3,017,182 JACKS GAME Leo F. Milan, Tallahassee, Fla. (2076 S. Fillmore St., Denver 10, Colo.) Filed Jan. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 786,548 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-1) This invention relates to games of skill, and it more particularly relates to a game involving a Variation of the game of jacks.

Heretofore, jacks were utilized in a game by merely dropping the jacks on the ground wherever they might fall and then bouncing the ball in whatever area the jacks were. This was a haphazard arrangement which involved a minimum of skill and coordination.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome the above disadvantage by providing a game wherein the drop area is limited to specified zones wherein certain zones are provided with benefits and others with forfeitures of points, a certain number of points being necessary for a winning score.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game of jacks which is played under standardized rules and conditions permitting the formation of matches and tournaments.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game of jacks which can be played as easily indoors or outdoors and which, in either case, will permit the players to engage in the game with a minimum of inconvenience and discomfort.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved game, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly efiicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in View, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a game assembly embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2 of FIG. 1.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a mat of generally rectangular, flat shape. This mat 10 is preferably constructed of a flexible textile material such as duck or canvas although plastic or any other material may be used if desired.

The mat 10 is provided with a central design or pattern 12 comprising a small circle 14, preferably of about a three inch diameter, from which extend radial lines 16, eight in number. These radial lines 16 extend at about 45. relative to each other and terminate at an outer circle 18, preferably not exceeding twenty-six inches diameter.

The inner circle 14 is imprinted with the number 9 while each of the segments between the lines 16 are numbered consecutively from 1 to 8 in clockwise fashion. Outside the circle 18, the numbers 10 are placed at 90 intervals even with vthe radial lines 16 forming the two bisecting diameters.

At the upper end and lower end respectively of the mat 10 there are provided a pair of slightly raised marginal edge portions 20 to serve as deliecting means to prevent the jacks from rolling off the mat and to also serve as decorative nishings for the mat itself.

Adjacent each upper corner of the mat 10 is provided a pocket 22 having a closure flap 24. Each ap 24 is provided with a fastener 26 of a snap-type to coact with a snap reception opening in the wall of the pocket. These pockets 22 serve as storage means, one to hold the jacks,

indicated at 28, as well as the ball, when these objectsare not in use, and the other to hold pencil, paper and the like.

If desired, in order to add to the ornamental appearance of the mat, designs of jacks or the like, such as indicated at 30, may be provided, These design features as well as the central design or pattern 12 and its adjuncts may be applied to the mat 10 by printing, stenciling, silkscreen method or any other desired method such as painting, dying, engraving or the like. The designs may also be made in various colors as desired or in black and white.

The pockets 22 may be applied to the mat 10 in any desired manner. Preferably, they are sewn on the mat by machine. In similar manner, the marginal portions 20 are preferably fabricated in the form of hems sewn by machine.

If desired, the undersurface of the mat 10 may be provided with a rubberized or other non-skid backing to prevent slippage of the mat during use.

The two types of games adapted to be played with this device are self-explained by the indicia 32 and 34 at the lower portion of the mat 10. In one of these games, notably that called Add-the-JaCkS, the players sit on the outer portions of the mat 10, well outside the outer circle 18 of the design 12 and attempt to drop the jacks 28 so that they will all fall onto the inner circle 14 or as near thereto as possiblel Those falling within the circle 14 are each credited with 9 points, while those falling within the various segments between the lines 16 are credited with the number of points corresponding to the number imprinted within that segment. Those jacks which fall entirely outside the outer circle 18 are penalized l() points while those which fall on the lines 16 are penalized 2 points each.

By rewarding the placement of the jacks within a certain defined area where the ball must be bounced to gather the jacks, the game helps develop eye-hand coordination. Furthermore, by providing a definite, standardized field of play, matches and tournaments between various persons and groups can be established and leagues can be formed. In addition, by providing seating room for the players on the mat, the players are not forced to sit or kneel on the hard ground or on such abrasive surfaces as asphalt and cement which tend to bruise the body and damage the clothing of the player.

In the other game called Pitch-the-Jacks, the jacks are pitched onto the design 12 from a relatively distant kneeling or standing position rather than dropped directly as in the first-described game. In all other respects, the game is substantially as described above.

By making the mats 10 of standard size and construction, standard conditions of play area, bounce, etc. are established so that the game can be completely standardized in the same manner as other widely accepted games of skill. This also facilitates mass production methods with the consequent savings in labor and materials.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A jacks game comprising in combination, a substantially flat mat and a pattern of predetermined conguration within the central area of one face of said mat, said pattern comprising concentrically arranged inner and outer circles connected by spaced radial lines forming a series of annularly arranged radial segments, an identifying score number within each segment, a plurality of score numbers on said one face of said mat outside said outer circle, and a plurality of jacks and a bounce- 3 able ball, said identifying score number on said pattern determining the score credit for the particular jack which has been pitched thereon and thereafter retrieved by the player during the bouncing ofthe ball.

2. The game of claim 1 wherein at least one pocket for storing the jacks and ball is provided on said one face of said mat adjacent a corner thereof, said pocket having a flap closure and means to releasably fasten said ilapl closure to said pocket.

3. The game of claim 1 wherein a raised marginal portion is provided at each of two opposite edges of said mat for at least partially deecting the jacks rolling thereagainst.

4. The game of claim 1 wherein said mat is flexible and is of suicient size to permit seating of the players thereon outside said pattern while playing thereon.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,683,860 Cahill Sept. 11, 1928 1,684,535 Dewes Sept. 18, 1928 2,050,914 Anderson Aug. 1l, 1936 10 2,799,502 lrakson July 16, 195,7

OTHER REFERENCES Johnson Smith Co. Catalogue for 1929, p. 246 cited, 

